File band



May 27, 1941. E E HL ET AL 2,243,757

FILE BAND Filed Nov. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [m [Win27 Jana? kw'oiMe/y Patented May 27, 1941 FILE BAND Erich Eugene Kohls, Fairy Chasm, and Ira Milton Jones, Thiensville, Wis., assignors to Continental Machines, Incorporated, Minneapolis,

Minn,

a corporation of Minnesota Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,552

1 Claim.

This invention relates to filing machines of the type forming the subject matter of Patent No. 2,180,078 issued to Leighton A. Wilkie, November 14, 1939, and refers particularly to the file band thereof.

As described in detail in said patent, these machines have a file band composed of a plurality of file elements arranged end to end on a flexible ribbon-like endless metal band trained over spaced pulleys with one stretch thereof traveling in a vertical straight line through a working zone between the pulleys. Inasmuch as the files must be secured to the carrier band .only at their medial portions to permit the band to flex as it travels around the pulleys, the ends of the files are apt to shift laterally with respect to the band unless secured against such displacement.

As illustrated in the aforesaid patent, ithas has been the custom in the past to provide interengaging connections between the ends of adjacent file elements with a view toward holding the ends of the file elements against lateral shifting. These connections were automatically established as the file band entered its straight stretches so that as the band passed through the working zone, the connections between the file elements were efiective.

While this past constructionundoubtedlyhelped hold the file elements in alignment, it was not wholly satisfactory. These interengaging connections between the ends of the file elements could not completely eliminate lateral shifting of the file ends; for while the files were thus interconnected with each other, their ends were free to shift with relation to the carrier band, which is the only laterally rigid part of the assembly.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a file band so constructed that lateral shifting of the files, even at their ends, is positively precluded.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a file band of the character described, wherein interengaging or interlocking male and female connections between the ends of the file elements and the carrier band per se operate to securely hold the file elements against any lateral displacement whatsoever.

Another object of this invention is to provide a file band of the character described, in which the interengaging or interlocking male and female connections between the file elements and the band extend across the junctures at the ends of the file elements to thereby positively insure alignment of thefiles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a file band of the character described, wherein that part of the interlocking connections on the carrier band may be formed in a stamp-ing operation.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which V Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of a filing machine equipped with a file band constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View illustrating a por-- tion of the file band constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Figure 3 is across sectional view taken through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 3-3; I

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 3 on the plane of the line 4-4;

Figures 5 and 6 are cross sectional views similar to Figure 3 illustrating slightly modified embodiments of the invention;

Figure 7 is a view'similar to Figure 4 illustrating another embodiment of this invention;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure '7 on the plane of the line 8-8;

Figure 9 is a detail view partly in transverse section and partly'in perspective illustrating another modified embodiment of this invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of this invention wherein the male part of the connection is carried by the file elements;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 illustrating another form of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10; and

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are views similar to Figure 11 showing other forms of this construction.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and especially to Figure 1, the numeral 5 designates the frame of a conventional filing machine provided with a table 6, upon which the work is supported. A pair of pulleys or wheels journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame of the machine are disposed one above and the other below the table 6, preferably with their front peripheries vertically aligned. One of the pulleys, preferably the lower one, is drivingly connected with a suitable power source (not shown).

The pulleys or wheels I, as is customary, have fiat friction rims over which a fiat ribbon-like file carrying band I is trained. This band if! is made of flexible metal and has its ends de-.

tachably connected, as at Ill, so as to be endsv less. Suitable means are provided for adjusting one of the pulleys to enable the band to be drawn taut and to insure the requisite frictional engagement between the driving pulley and-the band.

Rotation of the driving pulley in the proper direction thus moves the band vertically down through the working zone, which is the space directly above the table, it being understood that the table has an appropriate opening to accommodate the band. In its passage through the working zone, the band is supportedby a rigid back-up (not shown) which holds the same against the application of pressure thereon by the work and which also supports the band against lateral or edgewise displacement above and beneath the working zone,

Mounted on the outer face of the band are the fileelements l2. These file elements are secured to the carrier band in end to end relation by rivets l3 which pass through aligned holes l4 and in the carrier band and file elements, respectively. The heads of the rivets are countersunk below the filing surface.

To enable the band to flexand travel smoothly around the pulleys without hindrance from the file elements, the rivets are located within a small fraction of the length of each file element, preferably at their medial portions. Hence, the files assume positions tangent to the curve of the band as they travel around the pulleys and lie flat against the outer face of the band in its straight stretches.

While each'file element is secured to the carrier band by two rivets, the necessarily short distance between the two rivetsallows the ends 'of the 'file elements to shift laterally with respect to the band.

Interconnecting the ends of the file elements, as has been done in the past, reduces the possible lateral shifting considerably, but this does not positively prevent lateral shifting of the file elements.

However, with the construction employed in this invention, each file element has both of its ends firmly connected tothe carrier band whenever the band is traveling in a straight line. This is effected by interengaging male and female connections on the band and the end portions of the file elements.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the carrier band has outstruck projections or cleats l6 punched out at spaced intervalsv to enter sockets or grooves I! cut into the underside of the ends of the file elements. The spacing between these 1ongitudinal cleats is such that each cleat spans the.

that absolute alignment is assured between the adjacent file element and that the file elements are rigidly secured against any lateral shifting with respect to the carrier band, especially during their passage through the working zone.

As stated hereinbefore, the ends of the band !0 are joined together by a conventional detachable connection II. This connection, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a pair of spaced buttons IS on one end 19 of the band which engage in keyhole openings 20 in the other end 2| of the band. The tension on the band maintains the connection after it has been established. The end IQ of the band projects from th end of the fileelement adjacent thereto and underlapsthe other band end 2| when the connectionis made.

In view of the overlapping ends of the band atthis detachable connection, it is desirable to provide a simplified interlocking connection between the band and the ends of the file elements at this point.

For this purpose, a tang 22 is struck up from the extremity of the band end 2| and a similar tang 23 is punched up from the end l9.of the band inwardly of the buttons IS. The width of these tangs is the same as the widths of the cleats so that the sockets in the file elements may be of uniform size.

To facilitate the engagement of the cleats I6.

and the tangs 22 and 23 in the sockets H, the sides of the sockets may be tapered outwardly, as shown at 24, in Figure 5. This arrangement not only expedites the establishment ofthe interengaging connections, but also insures against play and looseness.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the file band it has rounded projections 25 engageable in similarly shaped sockets or recesses 26 in the file ends. than the height of the rounded projections 25 to insure complete engagement. This form of the invention also has an inherent guiding action.

The embodiment, of the invention illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 employs pairs of tangs 21 struck up from the band and so spaced as to be engageable in channels formed by the meeting file sockets H at opposite sides of the joint. The side edges of the tangs 2! are preferably tapered.

In the embodiments of the invention thus far described, the band carried part of the connection extended across the juncture between the file elements. It is possible, of course, to divide this connection, as illustrated in Figure 9, so that each file element has a socketZB in its undersurface to receive a raised projection 29 on the band. I

The inventive concept can also be embodied in constructions such as illustrated in Figures 10 to 14, inclusive. In all of these embodiments of the invention as distinguished from thosealready described, the male part of theconnection is carried by the fileelements while the female part is on the band.

In, the construction shown in Figur 10, the

' band has rectangular openings 33 opposite the junctures between the file elements to receiveraised projections 3| onthe undersurface of the file elements. These projections 31 are substantiallyoblong in shape-and have tapering sides to facilitate theirengagement in the openings 30. e

The construction illustratedin Figure 11 deviates from that shown in Figure 10 to the extent that the raised projections 32 aresubstantially The sockets 26 are of greater depthsemicircular to enter substantially round holes 33 in the band.

In instances where the file carrying band is quite narrow and it is objectionable to have holes extend therethrough, the constructions illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 may be employed. In these instances, the raised projections 34 and 35 on the file elements enter pockets 3B and 31, respectively. In one case the pockets are large enough to accommodate two projections, and in the other, a separate pocket is provided for each projection.

The raised projections on the file elements may be formed in any suitable manner. They may be integral therewith, as shown in Figures 10 to 13, inclusive; or they may be provided by the heads of separate inserts 38, as shown in Figure 14. By the same token, the cleates l6 and the other raised projections on the band l0 shown in the drawings may be formed as separate lugs riveted, Welded, or otherwise secured to the band.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides an exceedingly simple manner of positively securing the file elements against lateral shifting with respect to their carrying band.

What we claim as our invention is:

A file assembly for filing machines comprising: a flat flexible metal band; a plurality of file elements carried fiatwise by said band in end to end relationship with each other; means connecting the central portion of each of said file elements to the band so as to permit flexing of the band away from the ends of the file elements; a readily detachable connection at the ends of the band whereby the ends may be joined to form an endless band; each of said file elements having a recess in its undersurface opening to its end; a tang struck up from each end of the band and engaged in the recess of the file element adjacent thereto so as to prevent lateral shifting of the endmost file elements on the band; and a plurality of raised portions on the band, one opposite the adjacent ends of each pair of file elements, said raised portions being engageable V 

